Zayas Expected to be Named Head of NYSPHSAA

Robert J. Zayas is expected to take over as the new Executive Director of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA).

Zayas is the current Associate Director of the New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA).

“I am not only excited, but privileged to be considered for the position of Executive Director at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association,” said Zayas, who will begin his tenure September 1. “With a decade of work at the New Mexico Activities Association, I look forward to sharing my experiences and having the opportunity to impact the student-athletes of the great State of New York.”

Zayas succeeds Nina Van Erk as the Association’s sixth Executive Director/Executive Secretary since 1968.

His appointment will not be official until the NYSPHSAA Central Committee formally votes to accept his hiring on July 31 in Lake George.

He arrives at the Association with 10 years experience with the NMAA handling a variety of duties including administration from “A to Z” of the swimming, track and field, and so,ccer state championships. Zayas was in charge of the NMAA website development, media relations, classification and alignment, and the New Mexico Life of An Athlete program. He was hired as the Assistant Director in 2002, then promoted to Associate Director in 2010.

Zayas has served on numerous National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) committees and is a loyal member of the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA). He holds a New Mexico Administrators license, New Mexico Secondary Teaching certification, Texas Secondary Teaching certification, and is an NIAAA Certified Athletic Administrator.

Prior to arriving at NMAA, Zayas coached and taught at the middle school and high school levels in Central Texas. He graduated with a Bachelors Degree from Texas A &M-Commerce and earned a Master of Science in physical education from the University of New Mexico.

Zayas is pursuing a Doctorate of Philosophy in physical education at University of New Mexico.